Tetsu Katayama

Tetsu Katayama (28 July 1887-30 May 1978) was Prime Minister of Japan from 24 May 1947 to 10 March 1948, succeeding Shigeru Yoshida and preceding Hitoshi Ashida. He held the distinction of being Japan's first socialist prime minister, belonging to the Japan Socialist Party.

Biography
Tetsu Katayama was born in Tanabe, Japan on 28 July 1887, and he graduated from Tokyo Imperial University. Tetsu was influenced by the Christian left politics of Abe Isoo, and he became secretary-general of the Social Democratic Party of Japan in 1926. After World War II, he became secretary-general of the Japan Socialist Party, and he was elected Prime Minister in 1947, becoming Japan's first socialist prime minister. Katayama passed new labor laws, including laws ensuring equal pay for equal work and giving women maternity leave. He also passed laws protecting the privacy of children born out of wedlock, healthcare programs for mothers and children, outlawing the employment of minors in dangerous jobs, and creating childcare nations across the country. In December 1947, he passed an anti-monopoly law, and progress was made on land reform. He left office in March 1948, and he died in 1978.